Tanjay city: About 45 families, or 152 individuals, have returned to their homes in a remote village in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, days after the weekend clashes between government troops and the New People's Army (NPA). Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, commander of the Philippine Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade, assured Tanjay City Mayor Pepe Orlino of the safety of residents of Sitio Canggabi in Barangay Sto. Ni±o.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jumawan stated that the encounter sites are not populated and are far from the homes and farms of the residents. As of Wednesday, no more evacuees were reported at the Sto. Ni±o barangay gymnasium, where they had sought shelter on Sunday immediately following the skirmishes.

Mayor Orlino announced on social media that city health officials, the City Social Welfare and Development Office, and the local police went to the temporary shelter site to assist the internally displaced persons (IDPs). Food packs, medicines, and mental health and psychosocial support were provided to the IDPs.

Meanwhile, military operations continue as the brigade seeks the assistance of other Army units in Negros Occidental to track down the NPA remnants responsible for the death and injury of two soldiers from the 11th Infantry Battalion. On Sunday, at least four gunfights occurred between 11th IB troopers and seven to 10 remnants of the NPA's dismantled South East Front and South West Front at Sitio Canggabi.

Corporal Renold Gardose of Barangay Artuz, Tapaz, Capiz, was killed in action, while Private 1st Class Janes Tyrone Lozano of Riverside, Bohol, sustained an injury. The Army indicated that Canggabi residents had previously reported an armed group conducting house-to-house visits and convening them at night in what appeared to be attempts to recruit or regain their mass base.

Jumawan reiterated that they will not allow this to happen in Negros Oriental and will continue their operations to pursue the NPA remnants.